Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

Why This Matters

The Chief Justice of the United States is John Roberts. He has served in this role since 2005, making him one of the longer-serving Chief Justices in modern American history. The Chief Justice is the leader of the Supreme Court and the head of the entire federal judiciary.

The Chief Justice has several special responsibilities. During Supreme Court hearings, the Chief Justice presides over the discussion and manages how the justices interact with each other. The Chief Justice also has the unique duty of swearing in the President at the inauguration ceremony. When the Senate holds an impeachment trial against a President, the Chief Justice presides over that trial as well. These are roles that no other justice performs.

Like all Supreme Court justices, the Chief Justice is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. John Roberts was nominated by President George W. Bush. Once on the Court, the Chief Justice serves for life. This means John Roberts will continue in this role until he retires, passes away, or is removed through impeachment. For the USCIS test, you need to know his name: John Roberts. Some applicants also say "John G. Roberts Jr.," but simply saying "John Roberts" is sufficient.

Key Facts

• The current Chief Justice is John Roberts (John G. Roberts Jr.)
• He has served as Chief Justice since 2005
• The Chief Justice is the head of the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary
• The Chief Justice swears in the President at each inauguration
• The Chief Justice presides over presidential impeachment trials in the Senate

Common Mistakes

• Giving the name of a former Chief Justice, such as William Rehnquist
• Confusing the Chief Justice with the Attorney General, they are very different roles
• Not checking whether the Chief Justice has changed before your interview date

Study Tip

Link the name to the role: "Roberts rules the Court." The word "Roberts" sounds like "rules", and the Chief Justice rules (leads) the Supreme Court. Say "John Roberts, Chief Justice" five times. Once you have connected the name and the title, this becomes one of the easiest questions on the test.